Small arms projectile

Abstract

The invention relates to a projectile ( 1 ) having an elongated body extending in a longitudinal direction ( 2 ), comprising a nose portion ( 3 ), a base portion ( 4 ) and a middle portion ( 5 ) connecting the nose portion ( 3 ) and the base portion ( 4 ), wherein at least one of the nose portion ( 3 ) and the base portion ( 4 ) and/or the middle portion ( 5 ) comprise structural surface arrangements forming an aerodynamical effective surface ( 7 ) and/or a sealing arrangement comprising a plurality of ductile annular sealing areas ( 8; 9 ).

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A projectile having an elongated body extending in a longitudinal direction, the projectile comprising:
 a nose portion;   a base portion; and   a middle portion connecting the nose portion and the base portion, wherein at least one of the nose portion and the base portion and/or the middle portion comprise structural surface arrangements forming an aerodynamical effective surface and/or a sealing arrangement comprising a plurality of ductile annular sealing areas.   
     
     
         16 . The projectile according to  claim 15 , wherein the projectile has a solid of revolution shape and an overall length L,
 the nose portion has an ogive shape having a first length L1   the middle portion has a cylindrical shape defining a bearing surface with a diameter D1 and a second length L2, and   the base portion has a frustoconical shape having a third length L3, wherein   the overall length L equals 5 to 6 times of the diameter D1, the first length L1 equals 3 to 3.5 times of the diameter D1, the second length L2 equals 1 to 2 times of the diameter D1 and the third length L3 equals 0.1 to 1.5 times of the diameter D1.   
     
     
         17 . The projectile according to  claim 16 , wherein the overall length L equals 5.25 to 5.5 times of the diameter D1, the first length L1 equals 3.1 to 3.25 times of the diameter D1, the second length L2 equals 1.25 to 1.5 times of the diameter D1 and the third length L3 equals 0.1 to 1.1 times of the diameter D1. 
     
     
         18 . The projectile according to  claim 16 , wherein the ogive shape is one of the following shapes selected from the group of tangent ogive, secant ogive, blunted ogive, spherically blunted ogive, Haack series, and von Kar-man. 
     
     
         19 . The projectile according to  claim 15 , wherein the structural surface arrangements comprise at least one of dimples, nubs, ribs, flutes and grooves. 
     
     
         20 . The projectile according to  claim 19 , wherein the structural surface arrangements comprise dimples having a spherical segment shape with a base diameter DB and depth d, wherein the base diameter DB equals 0.05 to 0.3 times the diameter D1, and depth d equals 0.015 to 0.13 times the diameter D1. 
     
     
         21 . The projectile according to  claim 19 , wherein the structural surface arrangements comprise dimples that are arranged only in the nose portion or only in the base portion or in both the nose portion and base portion. 
     
     
         22 . The projectile according to  claim 20 , wherein the dimples are arranged in a way that a minimum center-to-center distance between adjacent dimples equals the base diameter DB, specifically in a way that the center-to-center distance ranges from one to two times the base diameter DB. 
     
     
         23 . The projectile according to  claim 19 , wherein the structural surface arrangements comprise the dimples that are arranged in a pattern of parallel rows and circles, staggered rows and circles or randomly or a combination of these patterns. 
     
     
         24 . The projectile according to  claim 19 , wherein the structural surface arrangements comprise flutes that are arranged longitudinally with respect to the projectile, wherein the flutes are arranged equally interspaced in a circumferential direction in the nose and/or middle portion. 
     
     
         25 . The projectile according to  claim 15 , wherein a plurality of fins extends from the base portion in a radial direction being inclined by an angle(a) of 10 to 30° in relation to a longitudinal direction of the projectile and wherein the fins have a curved shape of radius R. 
     
     
         26 . The projectile according to  claim 16 , comprising a plurality of fins, wherein an outer diameter D2 of the fins, is less than the bearing surface diameter D1 so that the fins do not make contact with the barrel lands and grooves. 
     
     
         27 . The projectile according to  claim 15 , comprising a sealing arrangement wherein the sealing arrangement comprises a first ductile annular sealing area comprising a front sealing ring and a second annular sealing area comprising a rear sealing ring, wherein the sealing rings are arranged in the middle portion. 
     
     
         28 . The projectile according to  claim 27 , wherein each sealing ring is arranged between adjacent annular grooves and diameters DS of the sealing rings are larger than the diameter D1. 
     
     
         29 . The projectile according to  claim 16 , wherein the structural surface arrangement comprises at least one of: dimples, nubs, ribs, flutes and grooves. 
     
     
         30 . The projectile according to  claim 29 , wherein the structural surface arrangements comprise dimples having a spherical segment shape with a base diameter DB and depth d, wherein the base diameter DB equals 0.05 to 0.3 times the diameter D1, and depth d equals 0.015 to 0.13 times the diameter D1. 
     
     
         31 . The projectile according to  claim 29 , wherein the structural surface arrangements comprise dimples that are arranged only in the nose portion or only in the base portion or in both the nose portion and base portion. 
     
     
         32 . The projectile according to  claim 30 , wherein the structural surface arrangements comprise dimples that are arranged in a way that a minimum center-to-center distance between adjacent dimples equals the base diameter DB, specifically in a way that the center-to-center distance ranges from one to two times the base diameter DB. 
     
     
         33 . The projectile according to  claim 29 , wherein the structural surface arrangements comprise flutes that are arranged longitudinally with respect to the projectile, wherein the flutes are arranged equally interspaced in a circumferential direction in the nose and/or middle portion. 
     
     
         34 . The projectile according to  claim 33 , wherein each flute is tapered at each end of the flute and has a triangular cross section and a maximum depth DG of 0.025 to 0.4 times the diameter D1 and has a curved bottom line wherein the radius RB of the bottom line equals 0.25 to 25 times the diameter D1.